Northern Iraq factor in Turkey-Iraq security relations after US invasion

If the world domination theories are examined it will be manifest that the Middle East is a significant region. In the region, the geopolitical and geostrategic location of Iraq is also important as the relevant developments since the late period of Ottoman Empire have proved. The exploration of oil reserves in Middle East precipitated the power struggle with the use of oil in industry and transportation as from the last quarter of the 19th century. Due to this historical process Iraq has a past fraught with tribulations. In recent history, the termination of bilateral structure of world politics has shaped the present politics in Iraq. This process which started with the First Gulf War is still contiuning and becoming more complex. The study covers the problems in the region with their ethnic, political, religious, and economic dimensions. Though the presence of the Kurdish in the region is an undeniable fact, the existence of Turkomen, Arabs, Assyrians, and Chaldeans is wittingly or unwittingly ignored. However, the arguments in the study assert that the questions in the region cannot be solved without considering these groups. The study as it offers suggestions to the problems affecting both northern Iraq and Iraq in general deals with the issues regarding these groups. The questions discerned by the international community with the outbreak of First Gulf War were a milestone for Ankara. The process which started with the occupation of Kuwait has directly affected national and international security policies of Turkey. The Operation Provide Comfort and the north of 36. latitude discourse have paved the way for the present autonomous structure in Northern Iraq, which has been a critical development both at international level and national level for Turkey. The current study, unlike the general opinion, presents the problems in Iraq and Northern Iraq are multi-dimensional and maintains that the settlement of these questions requires the inclusion of the other ethnic and religious groups. This alternative outlook makes the study original and might open new paths for different perspectives for the researches dealing with the region.